A Cinematic Classic Reborn: The Dears’ No Cities Left Turns 20
The Montreal band’s orchestral epic still looms large, with acoustic bonus tracks.
by Leslie Ken Chu
The 20th anniversary edition of the Dears’ No Cities Left is a reminder of what an unlikely success their sophomore album was. In 2003, while their compatriots (mostly from Toronto) were catching buzz around the world with guitar-focused indie rock, the Montreal outfit released a far more ambitious album.
Meticulously arranged keys, strings, brass, and wind instruments, lush harmonies, crooning vocals, and guitars rage as much as they drone. An intimate melancholy looms over the album’s 12 tracks as their protagonists stare the apocalypse in the face. No Cities Left has become a benchmark for sweeping, cinematic rock from its era, and it has endured as the Dears’ masterwork.
To say the litmus test of a truly great song is if it retains its essence when stripped to basic elements would be to insult band leader Murray Lightburn, who spent up to 18 hours a day arranging NCL. That said, the reissue comes bundled with acoustic versions of half the songs, including some of the album’s most beloved cuts like “Lost in the Plot,” “Who Are You, Defenders of the Universe?” and “Don’t Lose the Faith.” Pared down to voice and guitar, the bonus tracks showcase the inherent soul of the originals.
The Dears remain underrated today, but hopefully, the 20th anniversary edition of NCL will spur new appreciation. One can only hope, and like the throughline of the Dears’ work, sometimes, hope is all we have.
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